So cliché -so true

So cliché -so true

Fear of the unknown

The only thing to fear is fear itself

It's week 7 on my middle eastern adventure and I'd like to take this opportunity during my hour bus commute to reflect on my accomplishments, progress, and learning thus far. Honestly, this adventure was intended to give me a year to reconsider my priorities and break free from the routine my life had become. I walked into this chapter with an open heart, optimism, and prepared to watch reality and divinity intersect.

I've realized there are two distinct types of people: those who need structure, predictability, and routine to survive and those who feel suffocated by it. It's not to say that people can't switch tracks based on their moment in time and over the past few years I found myself personally questioning the cliché:

“If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.”

What I had “got” was by no means bad. A meaningful job, a comfortable house and car, supportive family, and terrific friends. Pretty easy really. But I felt the urge to expand, grow, learn and was somewhat stagnant in the dating department. Ok that's an understatement. While I do have amazing friends, I am entering a phase of live where most of them are settled with families and running on children's schedules and I've always found the pickins kind of slim for me in Chicago. So with divine intervention (literally) I was blessed with an opportunity to come to Israel as a working professional (something I always wanted but never thought was possible).

Fastforward to week 7 into the adventure and yesterday marked a milestone. I finally received my employee time card so I am officially “on the grid” at my job. Luckily I was warned about Israeli beaurocracy and came financially prepared with a cushion for a few months. Hopefully, by November I will receive my first paycheck.

I've learned how to have a sense of humor about beaurocracy reminding myself that “this too shall pass.” I've observed Israelis responding in pretty extreme ways so it's comforting knowing they suffer from it as well. I've seen a man scream at staff at the Ministry of Interior over the so called “protectzia” of the number system and young psychologist break down in tears over working for 3 months without pay. I, myself, have left multiple copies of paperwork in three locations (the psychological clinic, the Ministry of Interior, and the city Municipality) hoping to crack through the system. A lot of work for the small amount of sheckles I'm actually getting paid.

And as I wait for my first paycheck to get deposited, I've learned professionally that there is a lot of supervision provided from the city's psychological service clinic. I participate in individual and group supervision where we discuss cases and get input from senior practitioners. I have to admit that I am a little shocked that the small decisions that I used to make independently now have to be cleared through many channels before I can confidently take action. Whereas in the states, I think psychologists follow more of a “sink or swim” approach. I am helping implement an Animal Assisted Activity program at a school for children with severe disabilities and counseling typically developing highschoolers who have recently immigrated from English speaking countries. I even have a student whom I supervise in her practicum for an therapeutic animal grad program. Both of my assignments offer me the opportunity to expand professionally while working in a much less stressful atmosphere.

On an exciting note, in one short week one of my closest friends will join me in this adventure and by December the Chicago gang may all have a totally new living arrangement. While I wait for Devorah's arrival, I am attempting a green smoothie cleanse. Thankfully, the raging headache and fatigue of the withdrawal from sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, and carbs has lifted and on day three I'm feeling fantastic. If I continue to feel this good I will be tempted to stay on this diet/cleanse for a while.

Lyla tov for now

Awakening the sensory system

Yes, after one month of living in the middle east my midwestern roots are still adjusting to the tastes, touches, smells, sights, and sounds of Israel.  They say that the olfactory system is the strongest sense. I'm not sure that my body will ever be able not to cringe at the scents of garbage, urine/feces, exhaust, cigarette smoke, and body odor that line the streets of Tel Aviv.   Rather, I am developing the compensatory strategy of predicting when to hold my breath and breathe out of my mouth.  The second most obvious attack on my sensory system has been through the auditory channel.  My verbal memory is not naturally strong so I have to intentionally remember new Hebrew words, search for their definitions, write them down, and find opportunities to use them repetitively.  Additionally, living in the heart of Tel Aviv requires an adjustment from the silence of suburbia to the horns, chatter, alarms, and animal fights that sometimes wake me from my slumber.  My visual system is learning to keep my eyes peeled to the ground while walking my dog in case a sudden need to dodge feces or an angry street cat arises.  Visually, I am in awe of the Mediterranean sunsets, exotic faces, and Hebrew letters.   I will expand the tactile system to include vestibular sensations and anyone who rides the bus in Israel would agree.  My abdominal muscles and balance are learning to protect my body from the shock of sudden braking or weaving through traffic.  After the purchase of a floormat, dustbuster, slippers, and the station to wipe off Indi's paws, I can occasionally walk barefooted in my apartment.  Living in a sandy urban beachtown with three shedding females makes for sticky floors.  The tastes of Israel are easy to get used to.  While living on top of the open market results in more garbage, street cats, and homeless hanging around it also provides constant access to fresh produce.  It's easy to be a vegetarian here and I happily balance my fruit and veggie intake with red wine and desserts.  Overall, my sensory system has been awakened in both positive and negative ways and my reflexes are becoming more developed.  We'll see what happens when I'm wearing short sleeves in December!!!